July 13, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Marjory Allen Perez, 315-946-4686, maperez@rochester.rr.com

“135 Miles of Farms, Food and Fun on Routes 5 & 20” Campaign Has Official Launch

Tourism and agriculture interests joined together at events in Auburn and Avon on Wednesday, July 12th to launch the 2007-2008 campaign to promote agri-tourism along a 135-mile stretch of Routes 5 & 20, located between Lafayette at the east and Batavia and Darien on the west end.

The Routes 5 & 20 Promotion Group, consisting of tourism agencies representing Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, and Cayuga counties and Skaneateles, with aid of a matching grant from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Marketing, will put the focus on the agriculture and its appeal to visitors during the next year. “This section of Routes 5 and 20 passes through six counties – all with agriculture as one of its primary industries,” stated Meg Vanek, Director of Cayuga County Office of Tourism. “Not only is agriculture a primary industry, but it also dominates the landscape along Routes 5 & 20,” Vanek added.

The Kick-Off Event in Auburn was held at the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum on Route 38A in Emerson Park. The “Worm Farm” (RT Solutions) of Avon was host to the kick-off event on the west end of the route.

“We selected the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum and “The Worm Farm” as sites for our Kickoff Events, because we wanted to showcase the rich heritage of farming along Routes 5 & 20, while at the same time highlighting the present and future of agriculture along the route,” stated Sue Dove, Director of Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce and member of the Routes 5 & 20 Tourism Promotion Group.

The Routes 5 & 20 Promotion Group sees agriculture and its visibility as assets which will attract visitors to explore this historic highway. “The farm vistas, agricultural-themed events, farm markets, wineries, agricultural museums, u-pick operations – all have great appeal to visitors,” stated Lisa Burns, Tourism Director of Livingston County Chamber of Commerce. “I don’t think that most of us fully appreciate the value of our rural landscape and its importance to the overall quality of life of the region,” Burns added.

A four-color brochure entitled “135 Miles of Farms, Food and Fun on Routes 5 & 20” and an expanded website will provide visitors with information about agriculture-related activities along the Routes 5 & 20 corridor. For more information visit www.routes5and20.com.